More efficient search algorithm (MESA) using alpha omega search strategy

• US 20060053101A1
• Filed: 09/07/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert O. Stuart, Scott P. Stuart
• Original Assignee: Robert O. Stuart, Scott P. Stuart
• Inventors: Stuart, Scott P., Stuart, Robert O.
• Granted Patent: US 8,108,386 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3343 using phonetics
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90344 by using string matching techniques

Abstract

A more efficient search algorithm introduces a variety of new tools and strategies to more efficiently search and retrieve desired records from an electronic database. Among these are a strategy that utilizes the first and last positional characters, or phonemes, to exploit the fact that often last positional character is nearly as important as a first positional character in distinguishing database records from one another. In addition, virtual search parameters, that are not a portion of the database records, can also be utilized in distinguishing database records, such as by identifying a number of characters in a search field for a requested database record as a way of distinguishing that record from all others with a different number of characters. The invention finds potential application in any database search application, but is particularly useful in delivering directory assistance services.

Claims

1. A method of searching a database, comprising the steps of:

inputting a search query that includes non-sequential first and last elements of a search field of a requested database record, and the search query omits a plurality of elements of the search field positioned between the first and last elements; and

executing the search query; and

selecting at least one database record that matches the search query.

2. The method of claim 1 including a step of eliminating a portion of the selected database records at least in part by identifying an aspect of a database record that is absent from the requested database record.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the search query includes non-sequential first and last elements of a plurality of different terms in a single search field.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the search field is a first search field;

and

the search query includes first and last non-sequential elements of a second search field.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the search query includes at least one additional element that is other than non-sequential first and last elements of a term of a search field.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein first and last elements are each a single alphanumeric character.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and last elements is one of a formant and a phoneme.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the inputting step includes a step of vocalizing at least a portion of the search query to a voice recognition system.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the vocalizing step includes one of a formant and a phoneme.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the vocalizing step includes discrete utterances of the first and last elements.

11. The method of claim 8 including a step of extracting the first and last elements from a whole term uttered in the vocalizing step.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the search field includes an audiogram field.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the search query includes an element positioned between the first and last elements.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one database record is a plurality of database records;

and

sorting the selected database records according to a predetermined criteria different from an order of the database records in the database.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the sorting step includes a step of ordering the selected database records according to a frequency of occurrence of the first and last elements in the database.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the search query includes an attribute of a minority of the database records in the database-relative to a majority of the database, and the attribute not being a portion of the database records.

17. A method of providing a database record retrieval service, comprising the steps of:

establishing a communication link between a customer and a service provider, and the communication link originating from the customer;

receiving requested database record information from the customer;

formulating a search query based on the requested database record information that includes non-sequential first and last elements of a search field, and the search query omits a plurality of elements of the search field positioned between the first and last elements;

executing the search query;

selecting at least one database record that matches the search query; and

supplying the customer with information from the selected database record.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the formulating step includes the steps of:

screening information supplied by the customer with a live screening agent; and

formulating the search query based upon at least one of, information from a speaker independent voice recognition system and information from the live screening agent.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the information from the speaker

independent voice recognition originates from a customer utterance;

and

the information from the live screening agent includes an utterance processed by a speaker dependent voice recognition system associated with utterances specific to the live screening agent.

20. The method of claim 19 including a step of determining a confidence score based upon a determined accuracy of a result from the speaker independent voice recognition system;

the search query includes a portion from the live screening agent if the confidence score is below a first predetermined threshold, but includes only information from the speaker independent voice recognition system if the confidence score is above a second predetermined threshold.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein the selecting step includes selecting a subset of the database that includes a plurality of database records that match the search query, which is a first search query;

identifying an aspect of each of the database records of the subset that is unique to the respective database records;

formulating a second search query at least in part by requesting additional information regarding the aspect from the customer;

executing the second search query on the subset; and

retrieving, from the subset, at least one database record that matches the second search query.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the additional information is derived from an utterance from the customer to the speaker independent voice recognition system;

and

the requesting step includes a step of selecting one of a plurality of predetermined questions to the customer based upon the identified aspect.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the first search query includes portions of a name search field associated with the requested database record;

and

the supplying step includes a step of providing a telephone number to the customer.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the second search query includes a portion of an address search field.